Nerves begone! (Interview Tips & Advice)

Member Name: eatingpinkzebras

Product:	Interview Tips & Advice
Date:	18/01/09 (157 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Being prepared will help you perform better

Disadvantages: There's no way to predict exactly how the interview will go

Job interviews can be very intimidating, especially if you struggle at all with nerves over meeting new people, talking about yourself or answering tough questions. However, there are a few things which can help to lessen the pressure slightly and make the experience a bit less unpleasant. These are the things I try to do before and during an interview:

~ Research the company. Many interviewers will ask what you know about their organisation and you should be able to tell them basic things such as what the company does, what their philosophy is and how they work. All of this information will be available easily on their website or promotional literature so it should be simple enough to obtain and memorise. Don't quote directly though, try to put it into your own words.

~ Find out beforehand what structure the interview will take. If you're expecting a single interviewer and you find yourself in front of a panel of six different people, your nerves may skyrocket. It's always best to know what to expect.

~ Rehearse some answers to common questions such as:
Why do you want to work here?
What could you bring to our company?
Why do you want to leave your current job?
What are your best/worst qualities?
Can you give us an example of when you solved a problem/worked in a team?

~ Find out where the interview is taking place, work out how long it will take you to get there, and then factor in time for traffic jams, fog, flat tires, lost pets, etc. It's better to be early than late.

~ Dress appropriately. If you can, look at how the employees there dress and then do the same, but a little smarter.

~ Don't wear anything too distinctive. Huge jewellery or swirling, bright patterns can distract the interviewer.

~ Have tidy hair and fingernails, clean shoes and not too much make-up (especially men!). Don't take a huge handbag along as that can imply you are disorganised, so take a small bag instead.

~ Be calm. Breathe deeply beforehand, take some water along and sip it before you go in to stop your mouth going dry, and try not to fidget during the interview.

~ Finally, smile and be nice! Eye contact, a good handshake and a sweet manner can go a long way. Don't try too hard to be funny, just be pleasant and professional.

Good luck!

Summary: Hopefully these tips were helpful to someone.